Meet Andrea

« Hello from Writer Andrea Page »

I am half Native American and half German. I grew up in upstate New York and have lived here all my life. As a child, I spent a lot of time exploring nature, observing the tiniest frosty snow design and catching slimy pollywogs so I could watch them grow.

Here I am in my snowy driveway.

I was fortunate to belong to a large family with members living on different continents, namely North America, Europe, and Australia. We traveled often and I experienced the lives lived in different cultures. I wrote journal entries and even tried to sketch what I saw, although I didn’t feel like I was talented at writing or drawing when I was young.

As a visual person I love writing prompts that let you choose a picture and write about its character, setting, or event. When I look at a newspaper article, my eyes are drawn to the photo first. That is exactly what happened when I read an article about my great-uncle Johnny. My eyes zoomed right to the photo of six men, standing in a jungle, holding a Japanese flag. So many questions popped into my head. Who were these men? Where were they? Why were they holding the flag? The article told me a portion of their story. These men were Indian Code Talkers. That day, at my parents’ kitchen table, was the start of my quest for information about the seven Sioux Code Talkers and my great-uncle’s service in the First Cavalry Division in World War II.

Six of the seven men in my great-uncle John’s unit in WWII. (photo used with permission from Alma LaBlanc)

.As I searched for code talker information, I began to learn more about my cultural background. My mother grew up on the Standing Rock Sioux Reservation. After boarding school, she enrolled in college and moved to Rochester, NY. She met and married my father. He was born in (West) Germany and had recently moved to America.

My parents raised me, and my four siblings, with values of bravery, fortitude, and generosity. They taught us that generosity can take many forms: giving money and gifts; spending time with others; lending advice; using kind words to compliment others. My father worked hard and met his goal of becoming a business owner–many times over. Before he died, he ran several successful businesses, mostly in the Tool & Die industry. I always knew he was generous, but I didn’t realize how many lives he touched until his funeral. Hundreds, perhaps thousands, of people showed up in a terrible snowstorm to pay their respects. I remember person after person stopping to shake my hand, telling me how Walter Monsees gave his time and talents to help them start their own business. I knew this was something he did. What I didn’t know was the number of lives my Dad touched with his wisdom. He left quite a legacy.

Today, I am an author and a 6th grade ELA teacher who reads and writes about people who inspire others. I help my students learn important values in their own lives, like being brave and facing their fears, and approaching struggles one step at a time, and practicing gratitude, and being generous with their time. Sharing enthusiasm and a love of learning, and then witnessing the “ah-ha” moment is very rewarding. My hope is to continue writing and sharing stories that spark a commitment to make our world a better place.

I’ve always been a dreamer. When I was young, I wanted to be:

a nurse (my first drawing in kindergarten)

a ballerina (although I danced for 8+ years, I never did get to study pointe)

an Olympian (first in long jump, then volleyball, I never got there either)

a doctor (I applied for college as a pre-med major, but didn’t get there either)

a pharmacist (I loved my job working in the pharmacy while in college, but felt I needed to use the degree I just earned…psychology and education)

a teacher (I’ve enjoyed inspiring young minds for over 30 years!)

a children’s writer (coming soon!)

Andrea PageChildren’s Author & Educator

Member:

NYSUT (New York State United Teachers)

SCBWI (Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators)

RACWI (Rochester Area Children’s Writers and Illustrators)

Welcome, Friends!

Connect with me and get access to my resource files- topics include code talkers, creative teaching ideas, and newsletter updates.

I love being able to see this and I am so happy for you! I know that this first book has been something you’ve worked toward for a long time and it is inspiring to see your dreams coming true. I cannot wait to read it! Already thinking- how can I incorporate this into any of my classes!?

Hi Andrea! You probably don’t remember me, I grew up on Pine Valley and was in Peter’s class. My oldest is in 6th grade and loves to learn/read about WWII so I’m super excited for this book and to actually know the author is from my “old” neighborhood! Congratulations and I can’t wait to read this and share it with my son!

Andrea,
Wow! What a rich and wonderful life you have lived. I am so glad that you are able to share one of your fabulous stories with all of us. I can’t wait to read your book. Wouldn’t it be wonderful if we were able to read your publication as an approved book in one of our ELA units.
Congratulations and good luck at your book launch!
Denice